Electrolytic device for use in electric meters and other apparatus.



W. B. THORPE. ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE FOR USE IN ELECTRIC METERS ANDOTHERAPPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED AUG. 10, I914.

l, JLUMQUD Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

l E w w o 3 o Illll llll 0 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH can WASHINGTON D cknown as @TAT if WILFRJED BEBTR-AM THOR-1 E, 0F WANDSWORTH COMMON,LONDON, ENGLAND.

' ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE FOR USE IN ELECTRIC METERS AND OTHER APPARATUS.

LIWOJOOO.

Application filed August 10, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILFRED BERTRAM THORPE,a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing atIVandsworth Common, in the county of London, England, have inventedImprovements in Electrolytic Devices for Use in Electric Meters andother Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of device wherein the evolution ofgas electrolytically from a liquid is made use of to bring intooperation some means such as a metering train, time relay or switch, andit has for its object to effect certain improvements tending to securegreater reliability.

In meters of the shunted type, that is to say where the current to bemeasured does not pass through the electrolyte of the metering cell, itis necessary to employ a balancing cell in parallel with the meteringcell in order to keep the voltage drop across the metering cell constantotherwise it has been found that, due to a rising back E. M. F., a smallpercentage variation of voltage resulted in a large error inregistration. On the other hand it is extremely difficult to obtain thedesired constancy for a considerable period of time owing to theslightest variation in the resistance of any plate destroying thebalance.

To overcome such difficulties the present invention consists broadly incombining the cells together, that is to say, confining the electrolytein two separate regions of the same cell one of which contains anelectrode that is common to an eletrode of opposite polarity in eachregion, there being in the case of an electric meter, a connectionbetween the electrodes of like polarity of both regions with thecustomary resistance, the main shunt, included in one of the supplyleads while the common or companion electrode of opposite polarity isconnected through a high resistance to the other supply lead. In thisway when no load is on, the high resistance in series with the common orcompanion electrode precludes any but a very minute current flowingtherethrough by way of the other electrodes, whereas when a load ispresent, a current proportional thereto is cause to flow between thecommon or companion electrode and the electrode in the single electroderegion around the main shunt so that the gas Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. In, I916,

Serial No. 856,041.

evolved in this region can be taken account of for the purpose required,it being understood that the main shunt possesses the characteristic ofoffering a greater resistance to the flow of current, due to increase oftemperature, as the load increases than it does when only a very smallcurrent flows through A further feature of the invention consists incausing the gas evolved in the single electrode cell to accumulate to apredetermined quantity and to be thereafter liberated in such wise as toimpart movement to a portion of the electrolyte which is made use of totemporarily complete an electric circuit.

The invention can be carried into effect in various ways but in orderthat the features hereinbefore mentioned and other features may bebetter understood, one specific ex ample will now be described fromwhich other modifications will be readily ascertainable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portionof a meter showing the arrangement and construction of the parts of thisexample. Fig. 2 is a diagram thereof.

As here'shown a is a tubular member of glass or other suitable materialin the upper end of which the gases evolved can be ignited forrecombination to replenish the electrolyte, the lower end of the tubularmember having a cathode in the form of a plate 7) between two anodeplates 0, d. A tube 6 of smaller crosssectional area (here inaftercalled for distinction a trap tube) formed with a loop f intermediate ofits length, is connected at one end by a tubular connection 9 to thelarger tubular member a, near the bottom of the latter and communicatesat its upper end with the gas space of the member a.

h is a contact or wire, in the path of the tube 6, in connection with anelectromagnetic device exemplified as a coil '5, for operating recordingmechanism, a switch or other desired device.

The trap tube 6 contains an anode 3' (hereinafter called the registeringanode) which is very much smaller in surface area than the anodearrangement 0, d in the main tubular member a, which may in some casesbe say a hundred times as large as the area of the registering anode j.The two tubes a, e and the connecting tube 9 are charged p the cap 0 andserving to with a suitable electrolyte, for example a weak solution ofalkali. which may be a wire such quired, being meter is not shown inFig. 1 at in Fig. 2. The registering anode 7' may be of iron or steeland is connected, conveniently through an adjustable resistance m, tothe supply side out resistance, while the other a, is convenientlyconnected through an adjustable resistance a to a point in the mainshunt 7a which can be varied, shown in F ig. 2 as approximately at thecenter of the resistance. The plates 0, (Z may be of nickel and equal insize. Assuming the circuit to be one of 100 volts as mentioned, then theresistance connecting the cathode b to the negative supply lead may havea resistance for example of about say 56,000 ohms. oxygen and hydrogenformed as the result iently thls may be done by means of platispon 'ystate deposited on a pumicestone or as estos support in the upperpart'of the tubular chamber a, or equivalently, although it may be doneby an electric spark. In

platinum. hen the consumption circuit is not in use, any gases evolvedwill be practically confined to the main tubular member a and will berecombined in the upper part of such tubular member by the meansprovided for the purpose.

0 is a safety cap, for example of rubber, detachably secured over atubular stem on prevent any undue gas pressure being set up in theapparatus at any time.-

WVhen the consumption circuit is in use, gas will be evolved in the tube6, gradually collecting in the trap portion f and displacing thesupermcumbent electrolyte into the lower bend of the trap, owing to therapidly reducing weight of the column of electrolyte aforesaic, the headof liquid in the member a rapidly forces the gas in the trap and with itthe column of electrolyte, over into the gas zone in the upper part ofthe member a the electrolyte in this rush encountering the contact itand momentarily completing the circuit of the coil 71 or equivalent. Thegas from the gas from the cathode b in the as described. The cubicalloop f and the value of the resistance m are made such that with anygiven voltage supply, the loop 7 will become filled with gas to therequired extent to pass around the lower bend f of the loop and escapethrough the upper part of the tube 6 into the tube a for each unit, oreach desired part of a unit, or number of units of current supplied, orat any desired intervals of time.

he lower ends of the tubes (1, e are preferably sealed by fusing.

he contact it extends through a chamber 6 forming an extension of thetube 0. As the interior of this chamber becomes moist, there is or maybe a tendency for current to leak over its inner surface from theelectrolyte in the tube a to the opposite pole, namely the negative polein the example, through the contact 7t and the winding of theelectromagnetic device ?I, which is of comparatively low resistance, andcause the registering anode j to gas. To avoid this without employing achamber 0 of undue height and complication, the contact wire itpertaining to the circuit of the electromagnetic device ma be passedthrough a depending glass tube or rod r around which is wrapped a strip8 of metal, preferably nickel, connected direct to the anode or positivepole.

The action of the cell will be readily understood from Fig. 2. Thus,when connected across the mains, without the consumption circuit beingclosed, the main shunt 7a oes not act as an appreciable resistance andunder the impressed voltage there are three paths for the current totake, viz., through electrodes 0, (Z and 7'. Since the electrode j, asalready stated, consists in this case of iron or steel, is small inproportion to the other nickel plates 0, cl and has in itself a higherE. M. F. than nickel, it takes practically none of the current,notwithstanding that at no load it is connected to the same part of themain circuit as the main electrode 0, (Z, this being furthermore insuredby the fact that the electrolyte in the small tube 0 which contains theelectrode j is equivalent to a high resistance. The electrodes 0, clconsequently divide the balance between them. 0 taking more than (Zowing to its having no resistance in series with it but when theconsumption circuit is in use the main shunt it acts more effectively asa resistance and therefore current is shunted through the registeringelectrode j, the difference of potential between the two ends of themain shunt increasing with increase in the current. By adjusting firstthe size of the plates 0, d, j; adjusting the resistance n andconnecting the plate (Z to the right position along the main shunt In,such registering electrode I can be made to take the current inproportion to the current capacity of the flowing in the shunt 7c. Theincreasing of resistance a has the efiect of increasing the currentshunted through the registering anode j with low loads and converselythe connecting of the electrode d nearer to the supply end of the mainshunt has the effect of decreasing the current shunted through theregistering anode j with high loads and conversely. Thus any adjustmentcan be easily and quickly obtained.

In some cases the two electrode arrangements 7' and c, d may be cathodesand be connected to the opposite ends of a main shunt resistance in thenegative supply main the remaining electrode 1) being an anode connectedthrough the high resistance 6 to the positive supply main.

lhe ratio between the sizes of the registering anode and the oppositeanode or anodes can be varied to suit the rate at which it is desiredthat the electrolytic cell shall work. In some cases, of a time switch,the two anodes may be connected to one of the supply mains without anyspecial resistance being inserted in such main between the points ofattachment thereto of the anodes and a resistance, adjustable or not, beinserted between the supply main and each anode.

The trap tube and its electrode may, in some cases, be arranged withinthe other tubular member.

What I claim is 1. An electrol tic device of the kind referred tocomprising a cell having two separate regions containing electrolyte, anelectrode of like polarity ineach such region, an electrode in oneregion, common to the electrodes aforesaid and of opposite polaritythereto and a connection permitting upward flow of the electrolyte inthe single electrode region and passage thereof into the other electroderegion.

2. An electrolytic device of the kind referred to comprising a cellhaving two separate regions containing electrolyte and a gas-trappingconnection between such regions.

An electrolytic device of the kind referred to, comprising a cell havingtwo separate regions containing electrolyte, a gas trapping connectionbetween such regions and circuit closing means whereby an electriccircuit can be closed by movement of electrolyte through saidconnection.

l. An electrolytic device of the kind re ferred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions containing electrolyte, a registeringelectrode in one region, a pair 0 electrodes of dissimilar polarity inthe other region, and a tube with gas trap connecting the upper ends ofthe two regions.

5. An electrolytic device of the kind re ferred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions containing electrolyte, a reg as in thecase' istering electrode in one region, a pair of electrodes ofdissimilar polarity in the other region, and a tube with gas trapconnecting the upper ends of the two regions, the registering electrodein one region having a much smaller area than the electrode of the samepolarity in the other region.

6. An electroly ic device of the kind re ferred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions of unequal capacity containing electrolyte,a registering electrode in the smaller region, a pair of electrodes ofdissimilar polarity in the larger region and a connection permittingupward flow of the electrolyte in the smaller region and passage thereofinto the larger region.

7. An electrolytic device of the kind referred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions containing electrolyte, a registeringelectrode in one such region, a pair of plates spaced apart in the otherregion and constituting an electrode of similar polarity to theelectrode in the first named region, and an electrode of oppositepolarity to that of the electrodes in both regions, disposed between thesaid spaced plates.

8. An electrolytic device of the kind referred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions containing electrolyte, a registeringelectrode in one such region, an electrode plate of like polarity in theother region, a shunt resistance connecting the electrode plate to theregistering electrode, a second electrode plate companion to and of thesame polarity as the aforesaid electrode plate and adapted to beconnected to the resistance intermediate of its length, and an electrodeof opposite polarity to the registering electrode located in the sameregion as the electrode plates.

9. An electrolytic device of the kind re ferred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions containing electrolyte, a registeringelectrode in one such region, an electrode plate of like polarity in theother region, a shunt resistance connecting the electrode plate to theregistering electrode, a second electrode plate companion to and of thesame polarity as the aforesaid electrode plate, an adjustable resistanceconnecting the second electrode plate to the shunt resistance and anelectrode of opposite polarity to the registering electrode located inthe same region as the electrode plates.

10. An electrolytic device of the kind referred to, comprising a cellhaving two separate regions. containing electrolyte, a registeringelectrode in one such region, a nonregistering electrode of the samepolarity in the other region, resistances separately. connecting thesaid electrodes to one pole of an electric supply system, an electrodeof opposite polarity to both of said electrodes and disposed in theregion containing the nonregistering electrode, and a resistance conrateregions containing electrolyte, connection between th nesting the saidelectrode of ity to the other pole of the system.

11. An electrolytic device of the kind referred to, comprising a cellhaving two sepaopposite polarelectric supply regions, a gas trap in acircuit contact between such trap and one of the separated regions ofthe cell, rangement being such that gas evolved from te electrolyte inone isolated region is predetermined quantity has d circuit contact. Inan electrolytic device of the kind referred to, a cell comprising twoseparate regions containing electrolyte,

electrode in one region, electrodes of dissimilar polarity in the otherregion, a tact between which i gion containing the registeringelectrode, a circuit is adapted to be completed with electrolytedisplacement, an means comprising support, adapted to be connected tothe same pole of the source of the registering elect ter to the contact.

Signed at London, England, this 23rd day of J uly 1914.

VVILFRED BERTRAM THORPE.

Witnesses:

H. D. JAMESON, MILLERAND.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,D. O.

y as that to which

